Transportation

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 455: Revise highway and roadside service laws

SB 455 would prohibit towing companies and tow truck operators from soliciting services at accident scenes or near disabled vehicles. It requires written proof of service requests (including vehicle details, timestamps, and requester information) and imposes fines and suspension penalties for violations, with escalating penalties for repeat offenses. The bill directly affects towing businesses, vehicle owners, and law enforcement (who must maintain records for 3 years and can request documentation within 48 hours). It amends existing towing regulations to prioritize safety and transparency, though it died in committee on May 23, 2025, and is not law.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRegulates towing services to prevent exploitation at accident scenes, requiring documentation and imposing penalties for violations, enhancing roadside safety and accountability under transportation safety standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

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signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 433: Revise right-of-way laws for roundabouts

SB 433 revises right-of-way laws for drivers navigating roundabouts in Montana. It establishes that vehicles already in a roundabout have the right-of-way over those approaching it, which must yield. The bill creates specific provisions for towing vehicles, allowing them to deviate lanes for safe passage and requiring other drivers to yield and not pass them within or approaching a roundabout. If two towing vehicles enter a roundabout simultaneously, the vehicle to the left is granted the right-of-way.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationClarifies right-of-way rules in roundabouts to improve traffic safety and reduce collisions, directly advancing road infrastructure safety standards.95% confidence

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 387: Generally revise electric bicycle laws

Senate Bill 387 aimed to revise state laws concerning electrically assisted bicycles. The bill proposed providing specific definitions for these types of bicycles and amending existing sections of state law, including 61-1-101 and 61-8-102, MCA. This legislation sought to clarify how electrically assisted bicycles are classified and regulated within the state.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill clarifies e-bike regulations under Transportation/Motor Vehicles, promoting sustainable transportation by establishing clear legal definitions and classifications for electrically assisted bicycles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Bicycle Infrastructure Electric Vehicles

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signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 380: Generally revise laws related to motor vehicle laws

SB 380 generally revises various motor vehicle laws, impacting drivers, vehicle owners, and the state department. The bill expands the recognition of driver's licenses and identifications to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It also revises disability parking permit application requirements, allowing licensed advanced practice registered nurses to issue interim permits. Further provisions update vehicle title, registration, and license plate laws, enable more electronic transactions with the department, and adjust the minimum age for driver's licenses and commercial driver's license expirations.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRevises motor vehicle laws to modernize registration, improve accessibility (disability permits), and expand license recognition, enhancing transportation safety and regulatory infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Vehicle Registration

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 508: Generally revise driving under the influence laws for THC levels in drivers under 21

SB 508 revises Montana's driving under the influence (DUI) laws concerning tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for younger drivers. This bill establishes that for individuals under 21 years of age, having any detectable amount of THC in their system constitutes a DUI offense. This means there is no specific THC concentration threshold for drivers under 21, unlike the 5 ng/ml limit for adult drivers. The change applies to any amount of THC, excluding inactive metabolites, found in a driver under 21.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill eliminates THC threshold for under-21 DUI, expanding criminalization by making any detectable THC a violation without requiring impairment evidence.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes zero-tolerance THC DUI for drivers under 21, directly enhancing traffic safety under Motor Vehicles/Transportation subject category.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Traffic Safety

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 327: Revise motor vehicle registration fees

SB 327 does not change motor vehicle registration fees themselves but revises the formula for distributing revenue from vehicle-related fees to local governments. It amends Montana law (sections 15-1-121, 15-1-122, 61-3-321, and 61-3-562) to adjust how entitlement share payments are calculated for counties, cities, and towns. The bill updates the growth rate calculation for these payments, basing it on specific state revenue sources like vehicle fees (from section 61-3-321) and income taxes, rather than using the previous method. This directly affects all local governments receiving these annual revenue distributions. The bill was referred to the Taxation committee and died in committee in May 2025.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRevises revenue distribution formula for vehicle fees to ensure local governments receive funds for transportation infrastructure projects, maintaining existing funding streams.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Transportation Funding Vehicle Registration

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signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 483: Revise laws to reduce property taxes while preserving the current 95 school equalization mills

HB 483 aims to reduce property taxes by revising school funding laws, while preserving the existing 95 school equalization mills. The bill fixes state and county school equalization mills and vocational-technical education mills, and exempts school levies from general property tax increase limits. It also increases guaranteed tax base multipliers for fiscal year 2026 and raises state reimbursement rates for school transportation, which helps lower local property tax burdens. Additionally, the bill requires reports from the Office of Public Instruction and Department of Revenue on the impacts of property reappraisal on school funding and property taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly reduces property taxes through revised school funding laws, exempts school levies from tax limits, and raises state reimbursement rates to lower local property tax burdens while preserving school funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPreserves 95 school equalization mills and raises state reimbursement rates for school transportation, reducing local property tax burden while maintaining school funding stability.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly increases state reimbursement rates for school transportation, directly funding this transportation infrastructure component.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax State Budget School Funding School Transportation

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 27, 2025

LC 3186: Transferring funds to local road and bridge account

This bill directs the state treasurer to transfer $30 million from the general fund to Montana's local road and bridge account by July 15, 2025. The funds are intended to support local road and bridge maintenance and improvement projects managed by counties and municipalities. The transfer is a one-time action, not an ongoing funding source, and applies specifically to the account designated under state law (15-70-132). The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, with the transfer deadline set for July 15.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $30M from general fund to road maintenance account, directly allocating state budget resources for infrastructure. Aligns with appropriations focus under State Finance.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $30M from general fund to local road/bridge maintenance account, directly funding transportation infrastructure projects per state law 15-70-132.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 27, 2025

LC 139: Create board of passenger ropeway safety

This bill creates a Board of Passenger Ropeway Safety to regulate ski lifts and similar systems in Montana. It requires all ski area operators to register their ropeways with the board through an application process, undergo periodic inspections, and comply with safety rules. The board, appointed by the governor and including ski industry representatives, will issue annual certificates, set safety standards, and collect registration fees. This directly affects ski area operators by imposing new registration and inspection requirements to enhance public safety.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates safety inspections and standards for ski lift operators, directly improving workplace safety for workers in this sector.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates safety board for ski lifts (transportation infrastructure), enforcing inspections and standards to enhance safety within transportation systems.95% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 28, 2025

LC 1093: Provide for the regulation of secure youth transportation companies

This bill requires private companies that transport children (excluding government employees) to register annually with Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services, providing details like company ownership, vehicle information, and business licenses. Companies must notify the department 48 hours before transporting a child, including the child's details, parent contact, and transport route, while the department maintains records for 10 years and shares them with law enforcement for human trafficking investigations. The bill prohibits using physical restraints, chemical restraints, or visually impairing children (like blindfolds), and bans pickups between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. It directly affects secure youth transportation companies, aiming to enhance child safety and prevent trafficking through transparency and record-keeping.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRegulates youth transportation companies to enhance safety standards, aligning with transportation safety indicators per bill's focus on vehicle safety and oversight.92% confidence

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